Vernacular architecture is a term that can mean different things to different people. It is generally defined as a building style based upon local or traditional designs, materials and building techniques. However, the nature and origins of designs and techniques varied. Immigrants brought traditional building designs and construction techniques with them to the United States […]

Architectural styles, like many trends and customs, often present contrasts that lead people to gravitate towards one pole or another. While some might prefer an elaborate building style with oodles of ornament and bright, contrasting colors, others appreciate a style that is simpler and more organic. The Shingle Style is a great example of this […]

I realize I will be a voice in the wilderness, but I am not a fan of exposed brick. As a preservationist I do not advocate destroying a building’s historic fabric to suit current trends. Removing 150 year-old lime plaster to expose brick that was never intended to be seen is, perhaps, the most common […]

When we imagine a Victorian home most of us have an image of a Queen Anne Style in our mind’s eye. The Queen Anne certainly is the most common and flamboyant of the 19th century building styles although its origins aren’t commonly understood. Indeed, people from the United Kingdom find the term Queen Anne quite […]

Immigration to the United States has always been a difficult experience that led many newcomers to question their own identities as they tried to build a new life in their new home. Immigrant groups reacted differently as some quickly learned English and adopted American culture. Others clung to their language and customs as they feared […]

Our national cold snap has led to many questions about insulating historic homes, thermal efficiency, windows, doors and much more. I thought I would outline a few things that you should consider when trying to improve the thermal efficiency of your older home. Generally speaking, houses lose heat in two ways. One is radiation. Radiation […]

I just had the great pleasure of doing a presentation on the historic trades and preservation for the Northern Bedrock Preservation Corps. Northern Bedrock was established in 2011 to help young adults enter the preservation trades by providing training and hands-on experience repairing historic structures and architecture. The founders of Northern Bedrock are aware that there […]

I have had the pleasure recently of working on a local building designed by the prominent architect Cass Gilbert. Gilbert is known for designing landmark buildings such as the Woolworth Building in New York City, the United States Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC and several state capitol buildings, including the Minnesota Capitol Building in […]

“What style is my house?” This is a common query from homeowners as they wonder how their home fits into the local architectural landscape. This is, however, a question that can be difficult to answer. Is a house a Victorian, Folk Victorian, National Folk, Vernacular, Queen Anne, Italianate, Second Empire or something else? Answers depend […]

Andrew Jackson Downing casts a long shadow in American architecture and design. Although Downing died in 1851 at the young age of 36, his aesthetic and design principals remained current through the end of the 19th century. Downing was particularly influential in the design of farmhouses and rural cottages where his emphasis on architecture as […]